Giant cell-rich extrapleural solitary fibrous tumor: Cytological findings and differential diagnosis of a rare neoplasm.

Extrapleural solitary fibrous tumor (ESFT) is a rare neoplasm with a variable biological behavior that may occur almost everywhere in the body, as it has been reported in head and neck, back, retroperitoneum, inguinal region and more. The diagnosis of ESFT may be challenging, especially in case of its morphological rare variants such as giant cell-rich ESFT. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, poorly invasive, safe diagnostic technique, which is recently proving useful for the preoperative diagnosis of mesenchymal neoplasms.

The continuing role of breast fine-needle aspiration biopsy after the introduction of the IAC Yokohama System For Reporting Breast Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology.

Background: Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) (US-guided FNAB) is a rapid and cost-effective procedure for the diagnosis of breast lesions. Our Institution has a long tradition in breast FNAB performed by cytopathologists; recently we adopted both US guidance and a five-tiered classification system similar to that proposed by the International Academy of Cytology (IAC). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the continuing role of US-guided FNAB in the diagnosis of breast lesions, despite the growing adoption of core-needle biopsy (CNB).

Exploring the Inter-observer Agreement Among the Members of the Italian Consensus for the Classification and Reporting of Thyroid Cytology.

Classification schemes for reporting thyroid cytology of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules are largely used in clinical practice, but the level of inter-observer agreement among cytopathologists is poorly acknowledged. The present study aimed to explore the inter-observer agreement among the experienced authors of the 2014 Italian Consensus for Classification and Reporting of Thyroid Cytology (ICCRTC). A stratified randomization was performed in order to obtain a sample homogeneously distributed and representative of all ICCRTC classes.

Cytology-based gene mutation tests to predict response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy: a review.

Recent therapeutic progresses in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in colorectal cancer (CRC) are based on agents that specifically target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). To identify the patients most likely to benefit from such therapies, EGFR or KRAS gene mutation tests are mandatory, respectively, in NSCLC and in CRC. In patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, exploiting cytological samples for these tests avoids not curative surgery.

Fine needle cytology and flow cytometry of ectopic cervical thymoma: a case report.

Background: A case of ectopic cervical thymoma (ECT) in which fine needle cytology (FNC) and flow cytometry (FC) have orientated the cytologic diagnosis, is described.

Case: A 57-year-old woman underwent FNC of a right latero-cervical nodule. The smear showed a dispersed lymphoid-cell population; therefore, a second FNC was used for FC and to prepare a cell block.

Impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in lymph nodal and mediastinal lesions: a multicenter experience.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is an established procedure in lung cancer (LC) staging and in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses. Most of the experiences reported refer to single specialized centers where dedicated teams of endoscopists and pathologists perform the procedure. We report the EUS-FNA experience of a cooperation group involving clinicians and cytopathologists from three hospitals.

KRAS testing on colo-rectal carcinoma cytological imprints.

Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies, cetuximab, and panitumumab, are administrated under the condition that advanced colo-rectal cancer (CRC) carries a wild-type KRAS gene. Thus, clinicians request pathologists to genotype KRAS before treatment. In the near future routine mutation testing at the same time of the surgery may be implemented.

UbcH10 expression on thyroid fine-needle aspirates.

Background: Thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples belonging to the follicular neoplasm/suspicious for malignancy classes are controversial. The authors identified UbcH10 as a marker useful in the diagnosis of several neoplasms, including thyroid cancer. Here, analysis of UbcH10 expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry was applied to FNAs.

Metastasis of colon cancer to the thyroid gland: a case diagnosed on fine-needle aspirate by a combined cytological, immunocytochemical, and molecular approach.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with cytological evaluation reliably diagnoses primary and secondary thyroid neoplasms. However, identifying the primary origin of a metastatic process involving the thyroid gland is challenging. In particular, metastasis of colon cancer to the thyroid gland is very rare.

Fine needle aspiration cytology and flow cytometry immunophenotyping of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: can we do better?

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of fine needle aspiration cytology/flow cytometry (FNAC/FC) in the diagnosis and classification of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in a series of 446 cases and to compare the results with those of previous experiences to evaluate whether there had been an improvement in FNAC/FC diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: FNAC/FC was used to analyse 446 cases of benign reactive hyperplasia (BRH), NHL and NHL relapse (rNHL) in 362 lymph nodes and 84 extranodal lesions. When a diagnosis of NHL was reached, a classification was attempted combining FC data and cytological features.

KRAS mutation analysis on cytological specimens of metastatic colo-rectal cancer.

Recent evidences showed that metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with tumors harboring a KRAS gene mutation do not derive benefit from the administration of epidermal growth factor receptor-directed monoclonal antibodies. Typically, the specimens available for KRAS mutational analysis are formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary tumor tissue blocks. However, in patients with rectal tumours undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, the source of FFPE material is limited.

Amyloid in bone marrow smears of patients affected by multiple myeloma.

Systemic AL amyloidosis is associated with nearly 15% of cases of multiple myeloma, but data on the frequency and significance of amyloid deposits in the bone marrow of patients affected by multiple myeloma without clinical signs of systemic amyloidosis are scanty. Bone marrow smears of 166 unselected patients affected by multiple myeloma (126 at diagnosis and 40 after treatment) were stained with Congo red and studied by transmission and birefringence microscopy. Both focal and diffuse storages were considered positive.

Cyclin D1 and D3 overexpression predicts malignant behavior in thyroid fine-needle aspirates suspicious for Hurthle cell neoplasms.

Background: Thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples that feature a follicular-patterned, monotonous Hurthle (oncocytic) cell population cannot be diagnosed reliably. The authors of this report recently identified cyclin D3 overexpression on histologic sections of Hurthle cell carcinoma. In this study, they assessed the diagnostic value of cyclin D3 immunohistochemistry added to routine cytology.

Preparation of thyroid FNA material for routine cytology and BRAF testing: a validation study.

V600E BRAF mutation is emerging as an independent marker of papillary thyroid carcinoma aggressive behavior. Papillary thyroid carcinomas harboring this mutation should be extensively resected. However, this requires an unquestionable cytological diagnosis of malignancy.

Clonal B-cell population in a reactive lymph node in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 40-year-old female, HIV positive, stage C, since 4 years, complained of a right cervical lymph node swelling. Two years before, the patient had been diagnosed with follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (FL); she had been treated with four cycles of multiagent chemotherapy plus rituximab, the last cycle being administered 10 months before coming to our attention. An ultrasound (US) guided fine-needle cytology (FNC) showed an atypical lymphoid cell proliferation.

UbcH10 expression in human lymphomas.

Aims: The UbcH10 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme plays a key role in regulating mitosis completion. We have previously reported that UbcH10 overexpression is associated with aggressive thyroid, ovarian and breast carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate UbcH10 expression in human lymphomas.

Cytologic, flow cytometry, and molecular assessment of lymphoid infiltrate in fine-needle cytology samples of Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Background: The thyroidal lymphoid infiltrate (TLI) in Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) represents the substrate from which thyroid lymphoma may arise. The objective of the current study was to classify the TLI in HT by comparing the cytologic features with flow cytometry (FC) data and evaluating the kappa/lambda light chain ratio and its molecular assessment.

Methods: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in 34 patients with HT with nodular or diffuse palpable enlargement of the gland.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the follow-up of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by long survival and risk of relapse and second neoplasm. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of improving the accuracy of fine-needle cytology (FNC) in HL follow-up using Power Doppler ultrasound (US) assistance and immediate microscopic evaluation (ICE). The study was performed in two consecutive groups of 200 FNC in HL patients.

Galectin-3-expression analysis in the surgical selection of follicular thyroid nodules with indeterminate fine-needle aspiration cytology: a prospective multicentre study.

Background: In the USA, about 30 200 well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas were diagnosed in 2007, but the prevalence of thyroid nodules is much higher (about 5% of the adult population). Unfortunately, the preoperative characterisation of follicular thyroid nodules is still a challenge, and many benign lesions, which remain indeterminate after fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology are referred to surgery. About 85% of these thyroid nodules are classified as benign at final histology.

Cytological and molecular diagnosis of solid variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) composed by predominant solid areas is diagnosed as a distinct variant on histological samples. Here we present a case of PTC recognized preoperatively by fine needle cytology as a solid variant. This diagnosis was made by combining cytology with the detection of the BRAFVK600-1E mutation, the molecular hallmark of the solid variant of PTC.

Primary intramuscular infestation of Echinococcus granulosus misdiagnosed as a soft tissue tumor: a case report.

Background: The occurrence of a primary intramuscular infestation of Echinococcus granulosus is extremely rare.

Case: A 70-year-old woman with primary skeletal muscle hydatidosis initially presented with a soft tissue mass. Clinical and radiologic examination revealed a huge cystic mass in the right quadriceps muscle without any visceral organ involvement.

Pulmonary langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X) on bronchoalveolar lavage: a report of 2 cases.

Background: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is an interstitial lung disease characterized by bilateral nodular and cystic lesions. Clinically it seems to be a reactive process related to cigarette smoking.

Cases: In 2 cases of PLCH, cytologic and immunocytochemical evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was successfully used for the diagnosis of PLCH.